scholarly journals Production and persistence of annual pasture legumes at five saline sites in southern Australia

2008 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 518 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. G. H. Nichols ◽  
A. D. Craig ◽  
M. E. Rogers ◽  
T. O. Albertsen ◽  
S. M. Miller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Depth ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Waterlogging Tolerance ◽  
Medicago Polymorpha ◽  
Rainfall Events ◽  
Pasture Legumes ◽  
Commercial Species ◽  
Genotype Evaluation ◽  
Trifolium Michelianum ◽  
Made In

Herbage production and persistence of 42 annual pasture legumes from 33 species were measured at five sites across southern Australia. Medicago polymorpha L. was highly productive on soils, particularly those not prone to waterlogging, with soil surface (0–10 cm soil depth) salinity [estimated by electrical conductivity (ECe)] levels in summer of up to 36 dS/m, whereas M. truncatula Gaertn. was productive on ECe levels of at least 11 dS/m. Trifolium michelianum Savi and T. resupinatum L. were highly productive on soils subject to waterlogging, but only where 0–10 cm summer ECe levels were less than 8 dS/m. No commercial species were adapted to highly saline (0–10 cm summer ECe levels >8 dS/m), waterlogged sites. However, Melilotus siculus (Turra) Vitman ex B.D. Jacks. has the potential to fulfil this role, provided an appropriate Rhizobium strain can be selected. Mixtures of species and cultivars should be sown to account for high spatial variability for salinity and waterlogging. Traits for annual legume success in saline landscapes include salinity and waterlogging tolerance in germinating seedlings and mature plants, early flowering, hardseededness and delayed softening of hard seeds. Establishment of regenerating seedlings is associated with the timing of hardseed softening in relation to rainfall events capable of leaching topsoil salts. It is proposed that salinity measurements to determine annual legume suitability for winter-dominant rainfall areas are made in summer or early autumn, when at their highest levels. Transects along salinity and waterlogging gradients are suggested as an alternative method to traditional plots for genotype evaluation.

Long-term patterns of seed softening in some annual pasture legumes in a low rainfall environment

1992 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 331 ◽  
Author(s):  
GB Taylor ◽  
MA Ewing
Keyword(s):  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Medicago Polymorpha ◽  
Pasture Legumes ◽  
Burr Medic ◽  
Growing Environment ◽  
Simulated Field ◽  
Favourable Environment

Annual rates of seed softening were determined from 4 lines of burr medic (Medicago polymorpha), 1 barrel medic (M. truncatula), and 1 subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) grown at Merredin in the 1 year. Measurements were also made on one of the lines of burr medic grown in 2 other environments, Gnowangerup and Eneabba, in the same year. Burrs were placed on the soil surface at Merredin and the numbers of residual hard seeds determined each year for up to 5 years in this one environment. Patterns of softening of seeds from the same seed populations were also determined in a laboratory oven with a diurnal temperature fluctuation of 60/15�C. In the field, the softening rates of the 5 medics grown at Merredin were similar, averaging 21% of the original seeds each year for the first 4 years. Seeds of the burr medic grown in a more favourable environment at Eneabba were much slower to soften (averaging 14%); hence, hardseededness in these medics was influenced more by the growing environment than by genotype. More than half of the seeds of subterranean clover softened in the field over the first summer, with declining annual proportions thereafter. There were clear differences between the clover and medics in both pattern and rate of seed softening. The lower seed-softening rate of medics than of subterranean clover was more favourable for ley systems involving frequent cropping, especially in low rainfall areas. Treatment of seeds at 60/15�C simulated field softening for subterranean clover well but produced misleading results for the medics.

LYSIMETERS WITH RAINFALL AND SOIL WATER CONTROL

1971 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. J. KRISTENSEN ◽  
H. C. ASLYNG
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture Content ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Drainage System ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Trickle Irrigation ◽  
Water Control ◽  
Radiation Equipment ◽  
Different Depths ◽  
Growth Experiments

The lysimeter installation described comprises 36 concrete tanks each with a soil surface of 4 m2. The installation is useful for plant growth experiments under natural conditions involving different treatment combined with various controlled water supplies. The ground installation is at least 20 cm below the soil surface and tillage can be done with field implements. The lysimeter tanks are provided with a drainage system which can drain the soil at the bottom (100 cm depth) to a tension of up to 100 cm. A constant ground-water table at less than 100 cm soil depth can also be maintained. The soil moisture content at different depths is determined from an underground tunnel by use of gamma radiation equipment in metal tubes horizontally installed in the soil. Rainfall is prevented by a movable glass roof automatically operated and controlled by a special rain sensor. Water is applied to the soil surface with a special trickle irrigation system consisting of a set of plastic tubes for each lysimeter tank and controlled from the tunnel. Fertilizers in controlled amount can be applied with the irrigation water.

scholarly journals Willows Used for Phytoremediation Increased Organic Contaminant Concentrations in Soil Surface

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 2979
Author(s):  
Maxime Fortin Faubert ◽  
Dominic Desjardins ◽  
Mohamed Hijri ◽  
Michel Labrecque
Keyword(s):  
Soil Surface ◽  
Field Work ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Soil Hydrology ◽  
Intensive Culture ◽  
Shrub Species ◽  
Short Rotation ◽  
Pollutant Concentrations ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
Made In

The Salix genus includes shrub species that are widely used in phytoremediation and various other phytotechnologies due to their advantageous characteristics, such as a high evapotranspiration (ET) rate, in particular when cultivated in short rotation intensive culture (SRIC). Observations made in past field studies suggest that ET and its impact on soil hydrology can also lead to increases in soil pollutant concentrations near shrubs. To investigate this, sections of a mature willow plantation (seven years old) were cut to eliminate transpiration (Cut treatment). Soil concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), aliphatic compounds C10–C50, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and five trace elements (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni and Zn) were compared between the Cut and the uncut plots (Salix miyabeana ‘SX61’). Over 24 months, the results clearly show that removal of the willow shrubs limited the contaminants’ increase in the soil surface, as observed for C10–C50 and of 10 PAHs under the Salix treatment. This finding strongly reinforces a hypothesis that SRIC of willows may facilitate the migration of contaminants towards their roots, thus increasing their concentration in the surrounding soil. Such a “pumping effect” in a high-density willow crop is a prominent characteristic specific to field studies that can lead to counterintuitive results. Although apparent increases of contaminant concentrations contradict the purification benefits usually pursued in phytoremediation, the possibility of active phytoextraction and rhizodegradation is not excluded. Moreover, increases of pollutant concentrations under shrubs following migration suggest that decreases would consequently occur at the source points. Some reflections on interpreting field work results are provided.

scholarly journals Effect of tillage, slope, and rainfall on soil surface microtopography quantified by geostatistical and fractal indices during sheet erosion

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 232-241
Author(s):  
Na Ta ◽  
Chutian Zhang ◽  
Hongru Ding ◽  
Qingfeng Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Surface Roughness ◽  
Fractal Dimension ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Rainfall Events ◽  
Tillage Practices ◽  
Surface Microtopography ◽  
Artificial Rainfall ◽  
Soil Surface Roughness ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Sheet Erosion

AbstractTillage and slope will influence soil surface roughness that changes during rainfall events. This study tests this effect under controlled conditions quantified by geostatistical and fractal indices. When four commonly adopted tillage practices, namely, artificial backhoe (AB), artificial digging (AD), contour tillage (CT), and linear slope (CK), were prepared on soil surfaces at 2 × 1 × 0.5 m soil pans at 5°, 10°, or 20° slope gradients, artificial rainfall with an intensity of 60 or 90 mm h−1 was applied to it. Measurements of the difference in elevation points of the surface profiles were taken before rainfall and after rainfall events for sheet erosion. Tillage practices had a relationship with fractal indices that the surface treated with CT exhibited the biggest fractal dimension D value, followed by the surfaces AD, AB, and CK. Surfaces under a stronger rainfall tended to have a greater D value. Tillage treatments affected anisotropy differently and the surface CT had the strongest effect on anisotropy, followed by the surfaces AD, AB, and CK. A steeper surface would have less effect on anisotropy. Since the surface CT had the strongest effect on spatial variability or the weakest spatial autocorrelation, it had the smallest effect on runoff and sediment yield. Therefore, tillage CT could make a better tillage practice of conserving water and soil. Simultaneously, changes in semivariogram and fractal parameters for surface roughness were examined and evaluated. Fractal parameter – crossover length l – is more sensitive than fractal dimension D to rainfall action to describe vertical differences in soil surface roughness evolution.

scholarly journals Calcium Biogeochemical Cycle in a Typical Karst Forest: Evidence from Calcium Isotope Compositions

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 666
Author(s):  
Guilin Han ◽  
Anton Eisenhauer ◽  
Jie Zeng ◽  
Man Liu
Keyword(s):  
Soil Depth ◽  
Isotope Composition ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Natural Soil ◽  
Calcium Isotope ◽  
Karst Forest ◽  
Content Ratio ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Preferential Uptake ◽  
Vital Factor

In order to better constrain calcium cycling in natural soil and in soil used for agriculture, we present the δ44/40Ca values measured in rainwater, groundwater, plants, soil, and bedrock samples from a representative karst forest in SW China. The δ44/40Ca values are found to differ by ≈3.0‰ in the karst forest ecosystem. The Ca isotope compositions and Ca contents of groundwater, rainwater, and bedrock suggest that the Ca of groundwater primarily originates from rainwater and bedrock. The δ44/40Ca values of plants are lower than that of soils, indicating the preferential uptake of light Ca isotopes by plants. The distribution of δ44/40Ca values in the soil profiles (increasing with soil depth) suggests that the recycling of crop-litter abundant with lighter Ca isotope has potential effects on soil Ca isotope composition. The soil Mg/Ca content ratio probably reflects the preferential plant uptake of Ca over Mg and the difference in soil maturity. Light Ca isotopes are more abundant in mature soils than nutrient-depleted soils. The relative abundance in the light Ca isotope (40Ca) is in the following order: farmland > burnt grassland > forests > grassland > shrubland. Our results further indicate that biological fractionation in a soil–plant system is a vital factor for Ca–geochemical transformations in soil surface systems.

Seasonal cycles in germination and seedling emergence of summer and winter populations of catchweed bedstraw (Galium aparine) and wild mustard (Brassica kaber)

Weed Science ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 114-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Husrev Mennan ◽  
Mathieu Ngouajio
Keyword(s):  
Soil Depth ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Seedling Emergence ◽  
Seed Mass ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Burial Depth ◽  
Galium Aparine ◽  
Wild Mustard ◽  
Seed Population ◽  
Brassica Kaber

Catchweed bedstraw and wild mustard each produce two populations per year: a winter population (WP) in June, and a summer population (SP) in September. Experiments were conducted to determine whether the WP and SP differ in seed mass and seasonal germination. Seeds of both weeds were buried at 0, 5, 10, and 20 cm in cultivated fields, and retrieved at monthly intervals for 24 mo for germination tests in the laboratory. Additionally, seedling emergence from seeds buried at 0, 5, and 10 cm in the field was evaluated for 1 yr. Seeds from the WP were heavier than those from the SP for both species. Germination of exhumed seeds was affected by burial depth and by seed population. It was highest for seeds that remained on the soil surface and declined with increasing depth of burial. The WP of catchweed bedstraw produced two germination peaks per year, whereas the SP and all populations of wild mustard had only one peak. The WP of both weeds germinated earlier than the SP. Seedling emergence for both species in the field was greater for the WP than for the SP. Increasing soil depth reduced seedling emergence of both the WP and SP of wild mustard and affected only the WP of catchweed bedstraw. We conclude that the WP and SP of catchweed bedstraw and wild mustard seeds used in this study differed in seed mass, seasonal germination, and seedling emergence. The ability of a WP to produce large seeds that germinate early and have two germination peaks per year could make these populations a serious problem in cropping systems.

Alpine and Subalpine Wetland Vegetation on the Bogong High Plains, South-eastern Australia

1999 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 165 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.-H. Wahren ◽  
R. J. Williams ◽  
W. A. Papst
Keyword(s):  
Soil Depth ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Wetland Vegetation ◽  
High Plains ◽  
Composition And Structure ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Drainage Channels ◽  
Floristic Variation ◽  
Steep Slopes

The botanical composition and structure of wetland vegetation from seven sites in the alpine and subalpine tracts of the Bogong High Plains was sampled in 1995 and 1996. Sites were in the vicinity of Mts Nelse, Cope and Fainter. Sampling was based on contiguous 1-m2 quadrats along transects 20−70 m long across each wetland. Samples were ordinated using non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS). Floristic variation was assessed both within selected individual wetlands, and between wetlands from different regions. The relationship between the ordinations and environmental variables such as soil surface texture, soil depth and the amount of bare ground was tested by fitting vectors. Three dominant vegetation assemblages were identified. Closed heath, of hygrophyllous, scleromorphic shrubs such as Richea continentis and Baeckea gunniana, the rush Empodisma minus and the moss Sphagnum cristatum occurred on the deeper peats. Low open heath of Epacris glacialis and Danthonia nivicola occurred on shallow peats. Herbfields of Caltha introloba and Oreobolus pumilio occurred on stony pavements in two different physiographic situations&horbar;on relatively steep slopes (10−20°) at the head of wetlands, and on flat ground (slope < 2°), below the head of wetlands. The pavements on the steeper sites appeared to be associated with periglacial features such as solifluction lobes and terraces. Those on the flatter ground appeared to have been derived more recently. Wetlands in the Mt Cope region consisted of closed heath, low open heath and pavement herbfield in various proportions. Wetlands on Mt Fainter, which are subject to heavy trampling by cattle, were in a degraded condition, with a low cover of major hygrophyllous mosses and shrubs, and a high cover of introduced species. Long-ungrazed wetlands in a 50-year exclosure at Rocky Valley had high cover of closed heath, no pavements, numerous ponds and virtually no entrenched drainage channels or exposed peat. The Caltha herbfields are significant features nationally, both floristically and geomorphologically. Alpine and subalpine wetlands have been listed under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988, and continued grazing by cattle is not compatible with the conservation objectives for this alpine vegetation type.

scholarly journals Trace Metal Distribution and Mobility in Soils after Silvicultural Thinning and Burning

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 83
Author(s):  
Ngowari Jaja ◽  
Monday Mbila ◽  
Yong Wang
Keyword(s):  
Trace Metal ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Forest Health ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Parent Material ◽  
Design Experiment ◽  
Randomized Block Design

Silvicultural thinning and burning are common management practices that are widely used to address ecosystem problems such as tree stocking and general forest health. However, high-severity fire has variable effects on soils, resulting in damages which are directly or indirectly reflected on the trace metal chemistry of the soil. This study was conducted to evaluate the trace metal variation at the Bankhead National Forest in Northern Alabama following the silvicultural thinning and burning. The experimental site had treatments consisting of two burning patterns and three levels of thinning as part of an overall treatment of three burning patterns and three levels of thinning applied to nine treatment plots to fit a completely randomized block design experiment. Four treatments sites were used for this study and samples were collected from soil profile pits excavated at representative plots within each treatment. The samples were analyzed for trace metals-As, Cu, Ni, Zn and Pb-using Perkin Elmer 2100 ICP-OES. Post treatment samples indicated that the trace metal concentrations generally decreased with soil depth. Copper, Ni, and Zn at the Pre-burn site gradually increased with depth to a maximum concentration at about 50 cm below the soil surface. Arsenic in the surface horizons increased by 156% in the burn-only sites, 54% in the thin-only treatment, 30% for the burn and thin treatments. Such differences were unlikely due to differences in the geochemistry of the parent material, but likely due to anthropogenic activities and possibly the forest management practices in question.

Hardseededness and pattern of hard seed breakdown in Sardinian populations of Medicago polymorpha under field conditions

1996 ◽  
Vol 126 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Porqueddu ◽  
A. Loi ◽  
P. S. Cocks
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Basin ◽  
Seedling Emergence ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
First Year ◽  
Medicago Polymorpha ◽  
Hard Seed ◽  
Pasture Legumes ◽  
Commercial Cultivars ◽  
Previous Summer ◽  
The Mediterranean Basin

SUMMARYThe hardseededness and pattern of hard seed breakdown of 35 accessions of Medicago polymorpha, collected in Sardinia, were compared with Circle Valley, an Australian cultivar, near Sassari, northern Sardinia. The seed was produced in three consecutive years (1991–93), and the hardseededness measured at intervals in trie field during the summer following its production. The results were related to previously measured pod characteristics that separated the varieties polymorpha and vulgarisThe variety polymorpha, which had been collected mainly from coastal regions, was harder seeded than the variety vulgaris, which had been collected mainly from cooler, inland regions. Wherever the origin, hardseededness levels remained > 85% even in the year when seed softening was greatest (1992). In other years means of 94% (1991) and 97% (1993) of seed remained hard in late September. In 1992 and 1993 most hard seed breakdown occurred between early August and early September, while in 1991 hard seed breakdown occurred in September itself. There was little difference between varieties in the pattern of hard seed breakdown. Seedling emergence was related to the amount of seed that became soft during the previous summer. The results also confirmed that hard seeds soften sequentially from the proximal end of the pod (nearest the calyx) to the distal end.The Australian cultivar was one of the hardest seeded accessions, showing very little hard seed breakdown during the experimental period. This result highlights the importance of selecting pasture legumes under the conditions in which they are to be used: in Australia, cultivar Circle Valley usually loses some 20% of its hardseededness in the first year, comparable with the softest Sardinian accessions in Sardinia. Even among the Sardinian accessions, most were probably too hard seeded in 1993. Nevertheless it is likely that material in this experiment will be released as commercial cultivars for Sardinia and other similar environments in the Mediterranean basin.

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